Page 10 of No Going Back
But it also gave her a sense of purpose and security.
Janie shot her a wink. “I’m putting that on a shirt.” She snagged one of the cards from the holder on the counter and scribbled across the back with the pen Dianna used to jot down orders, then held the card out between them. “Here’s my number. Call me if you decide you’d like an extra hand around here.”
Dianna took the card, glancing down at the number as Janie went for the door. “Wait.” She patted the front of her apron, but her pockets were empty. “I need to pay you for today.”
Janie waved her off with a smile. “Don’t worry about it.” She grinned. “I stole a cinnamon roll so we can call it even.”
FOUR
GRIFFIN
“WHAT DO YOU think?” Nate gestured around the main floor of the house, a wide smile on his face. “Nice, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Griffin rested one hand on the smooth marble of the kitchen countertop, the snarled mess of his cuticles a stark contrast to the pristine surface. “I’m just not sure it’s really what I’m looking for.”
Nate had done his best with the limited inventory of homes available, spending their day together showing him houses in all the cities surrounding Moss Creek, but none of them had even come close to what he was hoping to find.
He wanted a house that fit him. One that suited his current needs.
And his current need was a project. Something to keep him busy and occupy his mind so he wouldn’t fall back into the same traps that always caught him.
And unfortunately, Moss Creek held one hell of a trap.
Nate’s shoulders slumped the tiniest bit under the clean lines of his expensive suit. “I know, man.” He shook his head. “I’m just having a hell of a time finding you a fixer-upper.”
It was starting to look like Amelie knew exactly what she was talking about when she warned him houses got snapped up by someone who knew the seller before they even hit the market. That was a problem since he didn’t know much of anybody around here. If it’d been back in Seattle, he could’ve had twenty houses by now. He’d run businesses in the area for so long his connections spread for miles.
But not here. Here he was nobody.
No. That wasn’t true. Here he was the most important thing.
Here, he was Troy’s dad. That’s how everyone knew him, and he wasn’t mad about it, because being Troy’s dad was the most important thing he could be right now.
Which was why he needed a fixer-upper.
Nate raked one hand through his dark hair before tucking it into his pocket, looking exactly like the successful realtor he was. Every bit of him was clean-cut and high-end. He was well-dressed, well-groomed, and well-spoken.
Add in the fact he was at least a decade younger, and Nate was exactly the kind of man Griffin should be sending into The Baking Rack to solve his problem. If Dianna was taken, the temptation she offered would be gone.
But he couldn’t make himself do it. The thought of anyone else touching her made him want to crawl out of his skin. The thought of anyone else pulling her close sent jealousy scrambling through his insides, clawing at his guts.
Because he was an asshole, just like so many of his exes had kindly pointed out.
“I really want something that needs work.” Griffin straightened away from the counter, tucking his hand into his pocket. “This place is beautiful, but it’s just not for me.”
Nate tipped his head in a nod even though there was disappointment on his face. “I get it.” He motioned toward the door. “From now on I’ll limit our showings to houses that fit that requirement.”
Griffin moved through the house, past the office with gorgeous built-ins and the light-filled formal living room. “I’m sorry for wasting your day.”
“This is my fault, not yours.” Nate opened the door, holding it wide as Griffin passed out onto the covered porch staged with expensive furniture and draped lights. “I knew your preferences, but thought I’d show you a few options outside of them. I’m the one who picked these places knowing they weren’t exactly what you were looking for.”
He couldn’t fault Nate for trying to broaden his horizons. It was becoming pretty clear what he wanted was in limited supply and Nate was in the business of selling houses. He had bills to pay, and dealing with a guy who wanted what didn’t exist probably wasn’t high on his list of ways to spend his workday.
“I’ll do a little more legwork. Let all my connections know I’ve got a client looking for a place that needs work.”
“Tell them I can pay cash.” Connections were great and all, but at the end of the day money talked, and he’d worked hard to be at a point in his life where he could say a lot.
Nate pointed a finger at him as they crossed the porch. “That will help.” His eyes swung to the driveway. “I see you got rid of that rental car. That’s a nice truck.”
